Linear Phrases: Part 2

In Part 1 we looked at eight linear patterns. In this lesson, we are going to combine some of those patterns to build more interesting and original ideas.

Each example consists of a base pattern and two different ways of playing it around the kit. The examples are just that, examples. So once you can play them get creative and try making your own and refer back to Part 1 for ideas. Just avoid ending patterns with two bass drums if you are going to use them as fills, as this will make it harder to go back into a groove.

As always, I recommend you practice to a metronome!

Loop each exercise until you can play it consistently.

Try using it as a fill. e.g. Three bars groove, one bar fill etc.

Repeat for each exercise

Once you can play A-C try phrasing the pattern in other ways, change the sticking if you have to. (Sticking refers to which hand plays the note, phrasing refers to which voice — snare, high tom etc — we use.)